Dentifrice applicator



April 29, 1947. R. s. HOBELMANN 2,419,396

DENTIFRICE APPLICATQR Filed March 27, 1944 E0001 PH 6.5%

Patented Apr. 29, 1947 nnmmnrda nrmca'ron Rudolph G. Hobelmann,Baltimore, -Md., assignor I Baltimore, Md.

to The Davison Chemical Corporation,

Application March 27, 1944, Serial No. 528,271

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to tooth cleaning devices and more particularlyto an applicator having a dentifrice incorporated therewith and designedfor single use after which it may be discarded. A dentifrice applicatoraccording to the concept of this invention is particularly adapted foruse at times when personal tooth cleaning equipment may not be readilyavailable such as in Pullman cars, hotels, and the like, where it maybedispensed as an emergency toothbrush.

It is therefore one of the principal objects of this invention toprovide a tooth cleaning device which incorporates a dentifrice and anapplicator therefor in a single structure which may be readily stored,dispensed and handled and, when used once, may be discarded.

Another object of the invention is to provide a discardable applicatorfor dentifrice which is composed of a paper material in the form of athimble which may be easily fitted over the forefinger of the user andby means of which a dentifrice carried by the applicator may be appliedto the teeth.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovecharacter which has an embossed surface serving both as an aid incleaning the teeth and in massaging the gums.

A still further object is to provide an applicator for dentifricecomposed of paper which is substantially water resistant and willwithstand its intended use without deteriorating.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a discardabledentifrice applicator which may be easily dispensed to the user in asanitary condition in a fiat sealed envelope which readily adapts thedevice for easy storage and dispensing in mechanical dispensingapparatus or for convenient carrying on the person of the user.

With these and other objects in view, which may be incident to myimprovements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to behereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that theseveral necessary elements comprising my invention may be varied incon-i struction, proportions and arrangements, without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown inthe accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practicaleffect without limiting the improvements in their useful applications tothe particular constructions which, for the purpose of explanation, havebeen made the subject of illustration.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my discardable tooth cleaningdevice shown on the forefinger of a user preparatory to use.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a paper blank from which the applicator shownin Figure 1 is folded.

Figure 3 is a plan view of a blank from which a modified form ofapplicator is folded.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view through the tip portion of anapplicator formed from the blank shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a dentifrice applicator made in accordancewith this invention and enclosed in a sealed envelope.

Describing my dentifrice applicator in more detail, it consistsgenerally of a tubular, thimblelike member formed from a single sheet offlexible material, closed at one end, and adapted to be placed over theforefinger of a user as shown in Figure 1. Preferably the area of thethimble lying adjacent the ball of the finger is embossed to provide abetter brushing surface and at least this area carries a dentifrice. Toaid in placing the applicator on the finger and particularly to aid inremoving the device after use, a tab is provided adjacent the open end.

While various fabrics or various types of paper may be used in themanufacture of the applicator, I have found that a rather hard andsubstantially waterproof material such as parchment paper is admirablysuited for the purpose as this material, which is sufficiently flexibleto conform to the shape of the finger, is still strong enough towithstand the limited use intended without deterioration. Papers whichare softer than the mentioned parchment stock may also be employed butthese papers are likewise preferably waterproofed such as by treatingwith a melamine solution or other suitable waterproofing agent.

The applicator is formed from a blank I of the selected material whichis cut, as shown in Figure 2, in the form of a substantial trapezoidwith a short tab- 2 extending from themid portion of the narrow end ofthe blank. One lateral edge of the blank is diagonally slit as shown at3 dividing this edge into two adjacent tabs, 4 and 5. The central areaof the blank at the narrow end is punched to form a series of stud-likeembossments 6. As seen in Figure 2, the blank is divided longitudinallyby folding lines I and 8, which diverge slightly from opposite ends ofthe tab 2, into a central trapezoidalpanel 9 and lateral wings I II andI I.

To form the applicator, the tab 2 is folded inwardly upon the surface ofthe panel 9, showing the concave surfaces of the embossments 6.

The wings i and II are 'also folded inwardly upon the panel 9respectively upon the lines I and 8, the wing 'il overlying the wing II.The longitudinal tab is then secured to the free edge of the wing by asuitable adhesive and the tab 2 may be likewise secured to theoverlapping wings. The tab 4 is not secured but is left free for thepurposes to be set forth later. Folding and securing thus forms a fiatenvelopelike structure of trapezoidal shape open at its longer parallelend.

The dentifrice which is carried by the applicator may be incorporatedtherewith in any desirable manner, and any type dentifrice may be used,but preferably it should be one having good handling and storingproperties.

I have found several methods suitable for applying the dentifrice to theapplicator. Tooth powder i2 may be applied to the area covered by theembossments with a suitable binder such as a water solublegelatinsolution which may be applied either directly to the papersurface or as a film covering the powder, or both. In either case, whenthe applicator is moistened by the mouth, the dentifrice will be madeavailable. Or commercial tooth paste may be applied and dried on thesurface of the applicator and will function in the same way. In lieu ofthe above, the tooth powder may be incorporated with the paper itself inthe form of a dispersion in the paper stock to give the desired actionof the dentifrice. In this case a soft paper, more porous than parchmentstock will be preferable, which paper can be waterproofed as above setforth to prevent undue shredding in use.

The applicator is preferably kept until ready for use in a sealedenclosure or envelope it of cellophane or other suitable material suchas shown in Figure 5.

Some users prefer a paste dentifrice and for such, the modified form ofapplicator shown in Figures 3 and 4 is designed. In this form the blankIA is shaped and folded in a manner similar to that described above. Inthis case however 45 the embossments 6A are punch'ed to perforate thepaper in the manner of a conventional nutmeg grater such as indicated atIt. The paper stock for this applicator should be waterproof.

Paste dentifrice I5 is either applied to the inner surface of thepunched area before folding the blank or inserted into the tip of theapplicator after forming. The natural resiliency of the paper normallymaintains the perforations substantially closed and retains the pastewithin the applicator. In use, however, it will be squeezed through theperforations and made available for its cleaning function. Thewaterproof paper stock will not absorb moistur from the paste, and whenkept in the sealed container l2, the paste will remain moist and plasticuntil used.

In using the device, it is placed over the forefinger in the mannershown in Figure 1 with the embossed area lying over the ball of thefinger. It will be recalled that the tab 4 is not secured to theopposite wing I, thus leaving, in effect, a slit down the back of theapplicator as far as the second knuckle of the finger which permits thefinger to be bent at this joint without rupturing and tearing theapplicator. After use the device is withdrawn from the finger anddiscarded. Sometimes after use it will be found that that the moistapplicator adheres closely to the finger, making it difficult to remove.In such cases the tab 4 serves as an aid to either draw 4 the deviceover the finger, or, in connection with thediagonalsliti.tostartaspirelteerendonwind" the paper from the finger.

In its normal fiat condition the applicators are easily stored orstacked in a vending apparatus, or carried by the user in pocket orhandbag ready for use when desired. It is inexpensive to manufacture,easy 'to use, and, particularly because of the embossed cleansingsurface, eflective in its tooth cleaning and messaging operation.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself tothe precise details Of construction herein set forth by way ofillustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may bemade therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from thespirit of the invention, or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An applicator for dentifrice fabricated ontirely from paper andforming a thimble adapted to be placed on the flnger for cleaning theteeth, a plurality of perforated embossments in the paper in the area ofthe thimble adapted to lie adjacent the ball of the finger, and adentifrice in the thimble adjacent th embossed area for dischargethrough the perforated embossments.

2. An applicator for dentifrice comprising a tapered tubular memberclosed at its smaller end and open at its larger end and formed from asingle sheet of paper material, said member adapted to be placed overthe finger for clu'ning the teeth, embossments adjacent the closed endon that side of the member adapted to lie edjacent the ball of thefinger, a longitudinal slit adjacent the open end in the opposite sideof said member and extending a portion of the length thereof to permitsaid member to be bent when placed over the finger, and a dentifricecarried by said member adjacent at least the closed end of said member.s

3. An applicator for dentifrice comprising a pered tubular member closedat its smaller end and open at its larger end and formed from a singlesheet or paper material, said member adapted to be placed over thefinger for cleaning the teeth, embossments adjacent the closed end onthat side of the member adapted to lie ediacent the ball of the finger,a longitudinal slit adjacent the open endin the opp s te side of saidmember and extending a portion of the length thereof to permitsaid-member to be bent when placed over the finger, a diagonal slitcommunieating with said longitudinal slit and directed at an angletoward the closed end and serving to start a helical tear toward saidclosed end, a tab adjacent the diagonal slit, and a dentifrice carriedby said member adjacent at least the closed end of said member.

RUDOLPH G. HOBEIMANN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

